Thread: Water shave

If you've got soft water then it's pretty slippery all by itself. I shaved with water and a disposable for years when I was in college.

I don't think I would recommend that as the best way to get started.

I have become to spoiled to cut out pre and post shave treatments and shaving creams and soaps....besides then I dont get to buy more brushes and mugs....what fun is that!!!!

Originally Posted by mparker762

If you've got soft water then it's pretty slippery all by itself. I shaved with water and a disposable for years when I was in college.

Was it the type with the lubricating strips on it?

No. This was back in the mid-80's, I don't think they had lube strips on bics back then.

My face was much tougher back in those days. Then I saw the movie "Gettysburg" and got inspired to grow a beard. Not one of these modern things where there's just a thin line of hair, or just well-trimmed stubble, but one of these bad boys. When I finally shaved it off years later, my skin was too tender for such harsh treatment, so I gravitated to other methods, eventually moving to the DE and then to straights.

Bottom line is . . . it's all about YOU. This is something generally done by you, to yourself, and for yourself. If you like shaving with water only and you are happy with the results on your face, then you're good to go.

I too shaved with water only for the longest time when using safety razors. I didn't see any results that bettered with shaving cream.

BUT, I then found WET SHAVING (soap, mug, brush, face prep, etc.). I found it made a major difference. I use the wetshaving method for a while before I made the leap to a straight razor, and I still sometimes get confused on the difference between a shavette and a DE. I tend to think of a DE (D-ouble E-dge) as those razors they passed out in WWII boot camp that used the gillette blades, but then someone says something about them that befuddles me again. No matter though because I use a straight and it works for me so I don't HAVE to know what a DE is or does Heck, I've been making soaps for YEARS and I just recently found out about "superfatting", though some of my recipes are probably considered "superfatted" I never knew. I'm still happy though

For me plain water doesn't cut it, even on the backside of a steaming hot shower. something about that wet shave with the prep and lather just makes all the difference in the world to me. Man I love a good wet shave!

Today I was a bit econimical with my shaving cream, thinking of water only shaving I decided not to get some more lather on the brush but the shave was not as close and not as comfortable as usual and now my skln feels as if it is burning a litte bit in the neck. The skin in my neck is thinner than on my cheeks.

Whether you can shave with water or not will IMHO partly depend on the thickness of the skin and whether you have a greasy or a dry skin. My skin tends to be dry, it does not tolerate alcohol containing after shaves.

BTW I've heard of guys using peanut butter and sewing machine oil in stead of lather.

I have to ask WHY? when there is such a wide variety of soaps and creams why on Gods good earth would you shave with water? IMHO shaving with water is akin to using a mock3..

Originally Posted by RichZ

I have to ask WHY? when there is such a wide variety of soaps and creams why on Gods good earth would you shave with water? IMHO shaving with water is akin to using a mock3..

This is more of a factor in places like India, Cambodia, etc. I have some doctor friends that travel several countries providing medical clinics to the poor villagers, emergency surgeries, etc. Most of them use an old gillette double edge razor and water. One fellow is considering switching to a straight razor. He's got a couple barber's hones he picked up in bangalore. I've promised to send him a razor if he decides to make the jump.

For situations like theirs, packing soaps, mugs, brushes, etc. is too much of a luxury. One of the fellows is teaching the others to shave without mirrors, strictly by touch and wet probing. now THAT's back to the basics

but THAT's why on God's good earth you would shave with water.

Originally Posted by RichZ

I have to ask WHY? when there is such a wide variety of soaps and creams why on Gods good earth would you shave with water? IMHO shaving with water is akin to using a mock3..

The peanutbutter was used by a guy who was pursueing some outdoor activity and could not afford to waste water, the sewing machine oil was tried to see what happens if you use only a lubricant.

Originally Posted by FiReSTaRT

I don't see why if you come across soil that's almost pure bentonite or kaolinite. That's what people around my dad's hometown did for centuries but the best areas are being exploited for those clays now. Now if the soil is sandy, then I can see how it would dull the razor.

How did they use it? Pure or mixed with soap. As far as I understand kaolin is added to shaving soap to improve the quality of the lather, to give it more volume.